Testing of detection and warning functions of interconnected smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms by single person

Abstract

A method for a single person to fully test the smoke, heat, or carbon monoxide detection and warning functions of each alarm device of an interconnected fire alarm system comprising of two or more compatible interconnected alarm devices such as smoke alarms, heat alarms, or carbon monoxide alarms in any combination and with interconnections and power supplies of any type, the system including interconnected alarm devices with ON and OFF test switches instead of momentary action test switches, and the smoke, heat, or carbon monoxide detection and warning functions of each of the system's interconnected alarm devices are tested by a number of actions and verifications by a single person.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for a single person to test smoke, heat, or carbon monoxide detection and warning functions of each interconnected alarm device of an interconnected fire alarm system that enables the person to ascertain, at a location of an alarm device being tested, that all remaining interconnected alarm devices have activated, the interconnected fire alarm system including:
 two or more compatible interconnected alarm devices with momentary action test switches such as smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms in any combination, wherein:
 the interconnected alarm devices are hard wired to a power source and are interconnected by hard wiring connection or by a wireless connection; 
 each interconnected alarm device is configured to detect that the alarm device has activated and is providing an audible fire warning when the alarm device is tested or is in alarm mode; 
 each interconnected alarm device is configured to switch operations when it is detected that the alarm device has activated and is providing an audible fire warning; 
 the interconnected fire alarm system further includes separate signal hard wiring connections configured to connect all of the interconnected alarm devices; 
 each interconnected alarm devices further comprises a light emitting diode configured to provide an indication of an alarm, each light emitting diode connected to the said separate signal hard wiring connections so that the indication of the alarm of the interconnected alarm devices provided by the light emitting diode are switched on to provide an indication at each interconnected alarm device when it is detected that all of the interconnected alarm devices are activated and are each providing an audible fire warning; and 
 the smoke, heat, or carbon monoxide detection and warning functions of each of the interconnected alarm devices are tested by a single person:
 operating the momentary action test switch of one of the interconnected alarm devices so that the alarm device is in test mode; 
 maintaining the said interconnected alarm device in test mode by continuing to push the test switch until the light emitting diode of said interconnected alarm device indicates that all of the interconnected alarm devices have activated and are each providing a fire warning; 
 terminating testing of the interconnected alarm device by releasing a pressure on the momentary action test switch of said interconnected alarm device when the light emitting diode of said interconnected alarm device indicates that all of the remaining alarm devices are activated; and 
 the single person repeating all previously described actions and verifications for each of the remaining interconnected alarm devices when they are tested in turn, one at a time, to result in the detection and warning functions of all of the interconnected alarm devices being tested and proven. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more compatible interconnected alarm devices include hard wired interconnections. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more compatible interconnected alarm devices include wireless interconnections. 
     
     
         4 . A method to test smoke, heat, or carbon monoxide detection and warning functions of each alarm device of an interconnected fire alarm system by a single person carrying a portable standalone device that allows the person to ascertain, at a location where an alarm device is being tested, that all of remaining interconnected alarm devices have activated when the alarm device is tested, the interconnected fire alarm system including:
 two or more compatible interconnected alarm devices hard wired to a power supply of any type, with each of the interconnected alarm devices having a momentary action push to test switch, wherein each of the system's alarm devices include a relay which operates when a higher alarm device current is detected when the alarm device is activated, such as when the alarm device is in test mode or in alarm mode, or when the alarm device has received a signal when another interconnected alarm device is in test mode or in alarm mode;   an RF wireless transmitter, hard wired to a power source, and connected to normally closed relay contacts of all of the interconnected alarm devices, such that the RF wireless transmitter operates and transmits a wireless RF signal when all alarm device relays are energized and their respective normally closed relay contacts open; and   a standalone portable battery-operated RF receiver unit which, upon receipt of a wireless signal from the RF wireless transmitter previously described, operates an electronic switch to turn on a light emitting diode to indicate that all the interconnected alarm devices have activated and are providing a fire warning;   wherein the smoke, heat or carbon monoxide detection and warning functions of all of the system's alarm devices are tested by:
 the single person operating the momentary action push to test switch of one of the interconnected alarm devices whilst holding the standalone portable battery-operated RF receiver unit resulting in the alarm device alarm activating and providing a fire warning; 
 the activation of the system's alarm devices resulting in all the alarm device relays to operate to open their respective normally closed contacts to turn on the RF wireless transmitter; 
 the single person verifying that the light emitting diode LED of the standalone portable battery-operated RF receiver operates to indicate that all of the system's alarm devices have activated and are providing a fire warning, when the standalone portable battery-operated RF receiver unit receives a wireless signal from the RF wireless transmitter to cause its electronic switch to close and turn on the light emitting diode; and 
 the single person terminating testing of the interconnected alarm device and repeating all previously described actions and verifications for each of the remaining interconnected alarm devices when they are tested in turn, one at a time, to result in all the detection and warning functions of all of the system's alarm devices being tested and proven. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the two or more compatible interconnected alarm devices include hard wired interconnections. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the two or more compatible interconnected alarm devices include wireless interconnections. 
     
     
         7 . An interconnected fire alarm system including:
 two or more compatible interconnected alarm devices hard wired to a power supply of any type, with each of the interconnected alarm devices having a momentary action push to test switch, wherein each of the interconnected alarm devices include a relay which operates when a higher alarm device current is detected when an alarm device is activated, when the alarm device is in test mode or in alarm mode, or when the alarm device has received an interconnection signal when another interconnected alarm device is in test mode or in alarm mode;   an RF wireless transmitter, hard wired to a power source, and connected to normally closed relay contacts of all of the interconnected alarm devices, such that the RF wireless transmitter operates and transmits a wireless RF signal when all alarm device relays are energized and their respective normally closed relay contacts open; and   a standalone portable battery-operated RF receiver which, upon receipt of a wireless signal from the RF wireless transmitter previously described, operates an electronic switch to turn on a light emitting diode to indicate that all the interconnected alarm devices have activated and are providing a fire warning.   
     
     
         8 . The interconnected fire alarm system of  claim 7 , wherein the two or more compatible interconnected alarm devices include hard wired interconnections. 
     
     
         9 . The interconnected fire alarm system of  claim 7 , wherein the two or more compatible interconnected alarm devices include wireless interconnections.